My life teaching in poverty-hit capital (From Southend Standard)
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My life teaching in poverty-hit capital
12:00pm Saturday 22nd September 2012 in Echo News
Shereen Breslin
A TOP teacher spoke about life teaching in one the world’s most poverty-stricken cities.
Shereen Breslin, an associate principal at Basildon Upper Academy, in Wickford Avenue, Pitsea , taught in the Argentinian capital Buenos Aires for 12 years.
After being born in London, Shereen moved with her family to Argentina, where she went to university to train as a teacher.
She spent time in Wales before deciding to return to Argentina to have her two oldest daughters.
Shereen, who teaches English and Spanish at the academy, said: “Life between the two countries is very different.
“In Argentina I worked in some of the poorest schools in the capital.
“Some days I had to drive round the shanty towns and pick up children and take them to school. We had to feed, bathe and clothe them so they were in a state to be taught. Some walk miles to school and get an education. We are so fortunate in the UK.”
Shereen started teaching Spanish at the academies last year and said the skills children gained from learning a new language could also help develop their English skills.
She said even though parts of Buenos Aires were rich, there were large clusters of poverty and schools that had only basic equipment.
Shereen said: “There is no such thing as interactive white boards. You have a blackboard, chalk and books. That is it. “We are lucky at the Basildon Academies to have so many resources and so much technology.’’ Headteacher Dr Rory Fox said: “We believe our greatest strength is our staff and so we have been keen to recruit outstanding teachers who can excite and enthuse students. Shereen is an outstanding Spanish teacher.
“She has already had a big impact on our GCSE classes. She has started students on Spanish from scratch in Year 10 and taken them to the point where they can get A grades in just one year.
“Shereen is working with other staff to ensure we can see equally impressive achievements in all subject areas.”
